USS Los Angeles Decommissioned

Navy Bids Farewell To Trailblazing USS Los Angeles

The nuclear attack submarine, USS Los Angeles (SSN-688), lead ship of the largest nuclear submarine class ever, was decommissioned on February 4th in Bremerton, Washington.  Follow the link for the full story.

Loss

On June 3, 2009, Vice Admiral James Calvert passed away. He was a WWII submariner. Have a look at this article on the Navy site.

I am a fan of submarines and submariners. I am pleased to note that Washington State has a deep (forgive the pun) tie to submarine history. Bangor, Washington is THE West Coast base for SSBNs (Also known as boomers or the Navy's leg of the Nuclear Triad or missile subs). I have been to Keyport Undersea Museum twice AFTER HOURS...one of these days I will make it into the museum. I have visited the marine museum in Astoria, which has a control room from a submarine(I'd like to have one in my living room). I had to visit Mare Island Naval Base when I lived in California. I had read about Richard O'kane among others walking along the piers and looking at their newly built subs. I walked on hallowed ground. Also at Mare was the conning tower from the Mario S. Vallejo and a German Manned torpedo called a Marder. I have read numerous books concerning submarines. I have a car that uses technology similar to diesel subs. I am a fan.

So, I bid Mr. Calvert good bye, may he sail untroubled waters.

German Marder

USS Mario S. Vallejo

October, 1962

So, 46 years ago we had the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was 46 years ago today and Friday that the four Foxtrot subs were surfaced. They were armed with one nuclear torpedo each. I think we ought to look back at that period and think about how it could have been...someone's finger could have slipped so easily...

As a result of Kennedy's entrance into the White House, and the difference between his and his predecessor's approach to world political problems, the US military had widened its conventional abilities. By the time of the Cubn Missile Crisis, the US had significant conventional forces ready for deployment. There were several exercises in the first half of 1962 that worked toward smoother communicaions, operations, and planning between services. In the Spring of 1962, forces had completed an exercise in Washington state called Exercise Coulee Crest. Inthe coming weeks (preferably sooner) I plan on writing a bit more about Operation Coulee Crest. I have received more information from Mr. Loewenstern and am working it up.